The August 31 Edition
Former US secretary of state Madeleine Albright famously said there’s a special place in hell for women who don’t support other women. I’d add that there’s a seat alongside them for those who dismiss women who write about their interior lives. You know, the ones who diss all “chick lit”, who don’t just dislike Taylor Swift’s music (which is fine, each to their own) but see its subject matter – relationships, heartache – as lightweight. To read in today’s cover story that Missy Higgins, despite having produced one of the most popular Australian albums of all time, has never been fully embraced by commercial radio, brought this train of thought to mind. Is it her music (again, fine), or is it something about the subject matter – relationships, heartache – that somehow disqualifies her from consideration? I guess we’ll never know, but I have my suspicions. – Editor, Katrina Strickland.
‘I cry in the pantry’: Missy Higgins nailed teenage angst – now for midlife woes
Mining her adolescent pain propelled Higgins into the hearts of music fans 20 years ago. Following her marriage breakdown, she’s reconnecting with them through song.
- by Melissa Fyfe
A dunny. A yabby. A puffer jacket … Sculptor Alex Seton’s making his mark – in marble
Australian artist Alex Seton made his name turning the mundane into the poetic. Now he’s off to the traditional home of marble sculpting: Italy.
- by Gabriella Coslovich
Three decades after the genocide, Rwanda is a nation transformed
Years after reporting on a broken country, a journalist revisits Rwanda to see its famous gorillas – and discovers a land in the midst of renewal.
- by Jennifer Byrne
‘Designed to destroy your life’: Markus Zusak on the magic of mongrels
There are times when a hound with boundless enthusiasm can really test your limits – but let’s face it, perfect dogs are boring.
- by Markus Zusak
Two of Us
For subscribers
‘I’m so glad he ignored me’: Alan Kohler on the advice son Chris didn’t take
Despite working for rival TV networks as finance editors, there’s no competition between this father and son.
- by Melissa Fyfe
‘Why can’t we talk about the part between the knees and the belly button?’
Karl Kruszelnicki on bodily functions, the relationship between religion and science, the poorest he’s been – and what awes him.
- by Benjamin Law
Modern Guru
Modern Guru
Walked a mate’s dog, but didn’t scoop the poop … Am I still a good friend?
Ask yourself the age-old philosophical question, suggests the Modern Guru: if a poop falls in an empty park and nobody is around to see it, did it really fall?
- by Danny Katz
Bin and gone
Possums traversed the power lines as Toby peeked into the kerbed, yellow-lidded wheelie bins. Like his, they were all full. Except Janet’s. He couldn’t, could he? She’d caught him using her bin once before and had given him such a gobful you’d think he’d been shitting in it. Feeling renewed indignation, he fetched his recycling overflow and, with trembling hands, laid each item into Janet’s bin as if it were a stick of gelignite. Then he dropped a can onto the street. When the explosion of sound abated, he considered his options. Fight or flight? Her porch light came on. Toby ran. Words by Paul Connolly. Illustration by Jim Pavlidis.
Sticky date pudding with tahini butterscotch sauce
The sesame paste imparts a deliciously nutty flavour to this classic dessert.
- by Helen Goh
Review
Good Weekend
The pasta might have caught your attention, but there are other delights at Attenzione!
The wine bar-restaurant is big on personality and flavour, plus great cocktails, mystery wine and head-scratching dish names.
- by Callan Boys
Review
Good Weekend
Eating this extra-special tofu dish is like being softly covered by a blanket
Hakka Cuisine is on a mission to expand Melbourne’s understanding of Chinese food, one burbling claypot, sticky dumpling and pork-stuffed tofu pillow at a time.
- by Dani Valent
